Oman coach Carlos Queiroz has criticised the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for granting Qatar and Saudi Arabia home advantage in the final round of World Cup qualifiers, describing the decision as unfair. The two nations will host mini-groups, with the winners securing a place at the 2026 World Cup. Opponents including Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates had requested neutral venues or transparency in the selection process, but the AFC did not respond to their concerns.
Queiroz, who has led three nations to the World Cup, said the scheduling further disadvantages his side. Oman face Qatar on Wednesday and the UAE on Saturday, while Qatar have six days between their two matches. A similar situation applies in Saudi Arabia's group. 'This has never happened before,' Queiroz told the Guardian. 'The people that made the regulations didn't think about this.'
The veteran coach also highlighted logistical challenges, with five Oman players based overseas and limited preparation time. 'We have players in Bangkok who play Sunday but the Fifa days only start Monday so they travel then, arrive on Tuesday and play Wednesday,' he said. 'I have been asking the chefs here how to make an omelette without eggs.'
Geopolitical tensions have also emerged. Indonesia has written to Fifa and the AFC after learning that a Kuwaiti referee will officiate their match against Saudi Arabia, calling for a neutral official from outside the region. Additionally, a planned friendly between Indonesia and Kuwait on 5 September was cancelled without explanation, according to Indonesian officials.
Six Asian nations have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are now strong favourites to join them, with the qualifiers concluding over the next eight days.
